Bud Blight
Symptoms:
- Young plants can be stunted.
- The terminal bud of plants at various ages can be bent over to form a characteristic hook, and buds may become brown and fall off.
- The pith may develop a brown discoloration, and leaflets may be smaller than normal and may deform by cupping.
- Pods may have brown patches and may develop poorly and abort.
- Maturity can be delayed and plants may remain green until frost.
Pathogen Involved:
- Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV).
- Seed transmission is the most important route for transmission, but thrips, grasshoppers, and dagger nematodes may be involved with transmission as well.
- This virus has a wide host range including pea, common bean, and red clover.
Time of Occurrence:
- All season.
Conditions Favoring Disease:
- Fields next to clovers, pastures, and weedy areas.
Disease Management:
- Plant virus-free seed.
- There are differences in resistance levels among some soybean varieties.
- It may be helpful to avoid planting soybeans next to pastures to reduce spread of the virus to soybean fields.